Rex was silent for a long time.
His gaze remained fixed on the miniature world before him, where countless tiny figures knelt before a crude wooden statue carved in his image.
The figure had no face, no refined details- just a rough outline of a being they remembered only through fragments of fear and awe.
Yet despite its simplicity- They believed and prayed.
They entrusted their fate to him.
A faint breeze passed through the real world, rustling the leaves above Rex’s head.
But his focus never shifted.
“…So this is faith.” His voice was low.
His words and feeling were not mocking or dismissive.
They were just… thoughtful.
He could hear nothing from that world.
And yet- It felt like he could hear everything.
Their desperation, fear and hope somehow reached him and stirred his heart.
For a brief moment- He hesitated.
But then- His eyes hardened slightly.
The words he had spoken… The judgment he had declared… Could not be taken back.
“Alice…” His voice was calm again.
“…start the rain.” A slight pause followed.
Then he added- “…start it with a little drizzle.” [DING.
COMMAND ACCEPTED.] Inside the sandbox- The sky dimmed.
At first- It was subtle.
A faint drizzle began to fall.
Tiny droplets touched the land gently.
Fell on trees, soil, rooftops and people’s faces .
The people looked up confused and uncertain.
Some stretched out their hands to feel the rain.
“It’s… raining?” A few even smiled with relief.
But that relief- Did not last long.
The drizzle continued without stopping.
The clouds grew heavier, darker and denser.
The rain intensified.
From drizzle- To steady rain, and gradually became relentless downpour.
The skies roared as thunder echoed across the land.
Lightning tore through the heavens.
Fear began to spread among the people.
“Has it truly began?” “Is this the creator’s punishment?!” Rivers began to swell as streams overflowed.
The soil softened by the rain began to trembled as the ground shook.
Animals ran in panic, birds fled aimlessly.
Creatures of all kinds searched for higher ground.
Humans already gathered at the ark began to panic.
They shouted and prayed while trembling in fear.
“Get on the ark!” “Hurry!” “Don’t leave anyone behind!” The massive ark stood as their only hope.
It was their only salvation.
Inside- People rushed in carrying children, some helping the elderly and some dragging supplies.
A few can be seen guiding animals.
Their minds were filled with chaos, fear and desperation.
And above it all- The rain did not stop.
It continued relentless.
Merciless rain continued as a day passed.
Days passed one after another.
For an entire week- The rain never ceased.
The oceans began to rise and water reached the shores.
Ocean water crossed the shores and began to swallow the land.
Villages disappeared and fields vanished under the water.
Paths were erased by the raging waves crashing on the land.
The world- Was drowning.
Inside the ark- The atmosphere grew heavy.
People huddled together clinging to each other as they sought to find relief in vain.
They were whispering prayers and crying silently.
At the center- The wooden statue stood.
One by one- They knelt.
Humans, beasts, birds regardless of the species they all knelt down.
All life gathered before that faceless figure.
“Please…” “Save us…” “Forgive us…” Their voices trembled.
Their bodies shook.
But still- They prayed.
The rain continued for two weeks.
Until- There was no land left.
The entire world- Was submerged.
Only the highest peaks of mountains remained visible.
And even they- Were slowly disappearing.
The ark began to float gently.
But soon began to shake violently under the waves Massive waves rose, crashing against its sides and shaking its entire structure.
Wood creaked and cracks began to appear in the beams..
Inside- Panic spread like wildfire.
“It’s breaking!” “The ark can’t hold!” “What do we do?!” People screamed and children cried.
Animals roared and shrieked.
All life inside the ark were in a state of panic.
The entire ark- Was on the verge of collapse.
Outside the sandbox- Rex saw everything clearly.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“…It won’t last.” The structure- Though massive- Was still built by humans.
It was imperfect, limited and fragile.
A brief silence followed.
He thought for a long time as he looked at them praying to his statue.
Then- “…Alice.” [YES, HOST.] “…enter the sandbox.” The moment the command was given- Reality distorted once again.
Inside the ark- Archon knelt before the statue.
His entire body trembled.
Tears flowed freely from his eyes.
“Great One…” His voice was hoarse.
He tried to speak with his broken voice.
“As per your guidance…” “I have done everything I could…” His hands clenched tightly.
“But my power… is limited…” The ark shook violently.
A loud crack echoed.
“I could not build something worthy to protect the….lives entrusted upon me.” His head lowered further, almost touching the ground.
“I could not protect what you entrusted me…” His voice trembled.
“For this…” “I, Archon…” “…beg your forgiveness.” At that moment- A voice descended.
“You have not failed me, Archon.” The entire ark fell silent.
The voice- Calm and filled with authority.
Before anyone could react- A massive presence appeared.
The world trembled.
The flood seemed to freeze.
The air itself grew heavy.
“I gave you hope of survival, and I will keep my word.” Rex- Had entered the sandbox.
His colossal figure stood above the endless ocean.
His shadow alone covered the ark entirely.
Then- He moved.
Slowly- He bent down.
And with utmost care- He lifted the ark.
The massive structure- Capable of holding over a million lives- Rested upon his palm, merely half the size of his palm.
Like a fragile object.
Inside- Everyone froze.
They felt it.
The movement and shift from the raging waves to calmness.
The sudden stillness of the violent waves in the ocean.
Slowly- They looked outside.
And what they saw- Stole their breath.
The entire world along with the flood and clouds of the sky- All of it- Was below them.
And above- Was him, their Creator.
The being they had prayed to everyday, feared but believed and respected.
The one they trusted was holding them, with his own sacred hand to protect them, to protect his creation.
Tears burst forth with relief and immense reverence.
Cries echoed as they all knelt down towards that colossal figure.
“THE CREATOR!” “He saved us!” “He didn’t abandon us!” Some laughed, some wept uncontrollably.
Some could only stare in disbelief at the colossal figure.
Faith- Exploded at that moment.
Archon slowly stood up.
His entire body was trembling.
He walked toward the front of the ark.
Beside him- His wife, Julia, and in her arms was a newborn child.
The child’s eyes were wide.
Curious and unafraid, such was the innocence of a child.
Looking directly at Rex, the child giggled.
Rex’s gaze fell upon them.
Then- He spoke.
But this time- Only Archon could hear.
“You have done well.” Archon froze.
“You followed the path I showed you.” His voice softened slightly.
“I will preserve humanity.
But…” “I will not take back the judgment.” “This judgment was not to destroy.
It was to make you all realize.” Archon lowered his head deeply.
“I understand…” Elsewhere inside the ark- A man sat in a corner shivering.
He was a historian.
In his trembling hands- was a notebook.
With shaking fingers- He wrote, every word, every event.
The Creator, Aren’s greed, his defiance, Creator’s anger, his judgment and the salvation.
His breath was uneven and vision blurred.
“I must not forget… humans should not forget.” “This must be recorded…” “This… is truth…” His pen moved frantically.
The first scripture- Was being born.
Rex’s gaze shifted once more towards the child.
“…This one…” He paused slightly.
“…has potential.” Archon looked up instantly.
There was shock and delight in his eyes.
“This child will change your world.
Raise him well.” Joy flooded Archon’s face.
“This servant… requests…” “…to grant a name from the Creator.” Rex remained silent for a moment.
Then- “Son of Archon and Julia, you shall be known as…” “Amal.” The word echoed softly.
“His birth marks a new beginning.” “He shall carry the future.” Archon bowed deeply along with his wife.
Behind him all creatures thanked him.
“Thank you… Great One.” Time passed as weeks turned to month.
For a month- Rex stood there.
Holding the ark without moving, only watching and waiting.
The flood slowly began to subside.
The rain stopped and waters calmed.
The waves weakened as the flood began to subside.
Land began to appear slowly.
Mountains surfaced along with plains and fragments of the past.
When the time came- Rex lowered his hand carefully and gently.
The ark touched the surface once more.
It was stable and safe.
Before anyone could react- He vanished.
Leaving behind- A silent humanity and a faith- That would never fade.
The people slowly got down from the ark and stood silently for a long time.
Looking at the place where their creator, their savior had disappeared without any word and demand.
After a long time they slowly knelt down in reverence.
Their beliefs towards Rex, towards their creator exploded within them.
Back in the real world- Rex opened his eyes.
A faint smile rested on his lips.
“…So this…” “…is the power of faith.” He looked at the people in the sandbox, who after leaving the ark didn’t leave instead they all knelt down with the intention to worship.
He looked away from the sandbox towards the silent lake.
He felt that something had changed within him but couldn’t point it out.
The wind blew softly and the lake rippled gently.
As he gazed at the silent lake, he felt something.
Somewhere- Something new- Had begun.